Alice Herz Sommer, who turns 107 this month. Happy birthday, Ms. Sommer!
Alice Herz Sommer isn’t an alum – in fact, she has probably never set foot in New Hampshire. But her story is an incredible inspiration and testimony to the power of the human spirit to triumph, forgive, and soar—and to the spiritual power of music. She turns 107 this month and is the oldest living Holocaust survivor, having lived through the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Watch this video clip from the new documentary on her, Alice, Dancing under the Gallows. The world needs more special souls like Ms. Sommer.
There are two pieces to this month’s mystery photo: First, where is this building, and second, do you know its historic significance? That’s the most interesting part. Be the first to send in your answer! (Actually, we’d love to receive lots of historical info on this—so keep the comments coming.)
This, and other images as we add them, are on display in our Where’d I See That? gallery. If you think you’ve solved this mystery, insert your answer into a first edition of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, and mail it to Newsline, Alumni Center, Keene State College, Keene, NH, 03435-1502, or use the “Comments” link below.
REDiscover Homecoming 2010 was a BIG success! The noble 600 who attended the world premiere of Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve: the First Hundred Years of Keene State College loved it; later that night, the comedian in the Night Owl Café had the audience bursting with laughs; O-staffers, Phi Mu Delta, & the CDC held wonderful affinity gatherings; and alumni from several sports teamed up again for a little friendly competition. The weekend wound up with a big bang on Saturday, starting with a tailgate party at the athletic complex, an exciting men’s soccer game that the Owls won in overtime, and awesome fireworks!
The biggest “thank you” to everyone who helped make the weekend what it was. We sure hope we’ll see you back soon. Mark your calendar for KSC’s Winter Carnival on February 4 & 5! To stay up-to-date with KSC Alumni events and happenings, find us on Facebook at “Keene State College Alumni” or follow us on twitter via “kscalumni.” And, of course, you can always depend on Newsline.
KSC Archivist Rodney Obien demonstrates one of the Archives & Special Collections' reading stands. Photo by Al Karevy
The Wallace E. Mason Library held a grand opening for its new Archives & Special Collections Center on October 2, 2010, as part of Homecoming Weekend. President Helen Giles-Gee, Library Dean Irene Herold, and Archivist Rodney Obien welcomed visitors and spoke about the importance of this facility. Student staffers Laura Ruttle, Brittany Arita, and Ryan LaLiberty also spoke about their work in the Archives & Special Collections.
Theater & Dance Prof. PeggyRae Johnson read a selection of poems from Then, Something and Duties of the Spirit by N.H. Poet Laureate Patricia Fargnoli, who was in attendance. Ms. Fargnoli recently donated her papers and manuscripts to the Archives & Special Collections.
KSC also recently received the papers of Edith Newlin Chase, a recognized children’s author and poet from Alstead, N.H., perhaps best known for The New Baby Calf (Scholastic). Margaret Perry and Ellen Chase, the author’s daughters, did a special reading of their mother’s prose and poetry, including The New Baby Calf.
The Center displayed the Chase Papers and books from the Robert Hubbard-Edward Gorey Collection.
If you were one of the approximately 600 audience members who attended the premiere of Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve: The First Hundred Years of Keene State College over Homecoming Weekend, you know what a hit it was.
The film touched many hearts. One of the film’s creators, Larry Benaquist, had a doctor’s appointment a couple of days after the premiere. When the nurse came into the waiting room and called for “Larry Benaquist,” three other people there leapt to their feet and applauded him. They told him that they saw the film on Friday and loved it. It’s that kind of film.
If you weren’t able to make it that weekend, don’t despair. There are lots of plans to make the film available later, including as part of the KSC Film Society’s offering next month. The public is invited to any of the free showings at the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall at 7 p.m. from Sunday, Nov. 28, through Thursday, Dec. 2. Don’t miss it!
KSC senior and student archivist Ryan LaLiberty was in the Colonial for the premiere and was so impressed that he wrote a review:
We had a picturesque New England weekend in Keene, September 24–26. The leaves were just turning, and the sun shone brightly as hundreds of parents and family members flocked to KSC to visit students they hadn’t seen since school began in August.
The weather couldn’t have been better, the activities and were packed to capacity, and everyone was raving about the special events. The magician Friday night, informational sessions for parents Saturday morning, and comedian Saturday afternoon were real crowd pleasers. The gym was packed for the Women’s Volleyball game (they won) and the stands out at Owl Stadium likewise were teeming with fans who cheered the men’s soccer team to victory over Eastern Connecticut.
Downtown Keene was awash in a sea of red and white as proud parents, grandparents, and siblings, sporting newly purchased KSC t-shirts and sweatshirts, cruised downtown to explore, shop, and feast on the city’s offering of delectable delights from around the globe – Thai, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Mediterranean.
Thanks to all the families for their outpouring of support and enthusiasm. More than once we heard parents remark they wish they could matriculate at KSC!
If you’re in town Saturday, Oct. 16, for Pumpkin Festival, stop by the Alumni Center on your way downtown. We’ll be here from 11 am.–4 p.m., offering a warm spot to sit, rest, share a little camaraderie, and enjoy a little snack and a drink, courtesy of the KSC Alumni Association, the KSC Parents Association, and the Alumni & Parent Relations Office
Most of the time, when KSC alums have a birthday, it’s not big news. Except to the alum having the birthday, of course. But once in a while, a birthday truly is newsworthy. In fact, three KSC alumnae just celebrated remarkable achievements.
Fast friends from the Class of 1940 (l to r): Dot Carruthers, Effie Torrey, and the birthday girl, Marion Thorell, who turned 92 on Sept. 23. Marion is holding her copy of a certificate that each of the surviving Round Robin friends received at a recent Golden Circle luncheon in appreciation of their loyalty to KSC and to each other.
Round Robin Reunion
Seven women from the class of 1940 had become so close when they were at KSC (then, Keene Teacher’s College), that they vowed to keep in touch as they each went off to seek their fortunes. And keep in touch they did, via a round robin letter that passed from friend to friend, each adding to it and passing it on – to this very day. Three of the original circle – Effie Wynn Torrey, Dorothy (Dot) Carruthers, and Marion Thorell – are still going strong and met at a Bedford, NH, restaurant on September 20 to celebrate Marion’s birthday. She turned 92 on September 23.
The Union Leader columnist, John Clayton, did an article on the round robin circle that appeared in the Fall 2001 issue of Keene State Today.
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Dorothy Bailey '32, holding the certificate alums are awarded when they reach 100.
Dorothy Britton Kendall Bailey ’32 also celebrated a birthday on September 23 – her 100th! How many people, KSC alums or not, have achieved such a milestone? Pretty impressive. Mrs. Bailey taught reading at the Jaffrey Elementary School and now lives in Royalston, Mass. She received a certificate signed by KSC President Helen Giles-Gee for reaching that amazing century mark.
Claris Lacey '31, 102 years young and married 70 years. Now, that's staying power!
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Claris Head Lacey ’31 turned 102 on October 3. She and her husband, William, took her friends out to dinner to celebrate. Claris lives in Portsmouth in the house William, now a mere lad of 97, built for them when they were first married. They lived in the basement for seven years while he finished the house. They must have built a strong foundation, because the couple have been married for more than 70 years. How many people, KSC alums or not, have achieved such a milestone?
Claris taught in one-room schools in Winchester, West Lebanon, and Warren, N.H. – the “Three Ws,” as she says. Just think of the amazing history she’s lived!
If you know any of these remarkable alumnae, or just want to cheer them on, drop them a comment.
Have fun, get some good exercise, hang with the best people, and support a worthy cause by joining Recreational Sports’ 6th Annual Pumpkin 5K Fun Run/Walk on Friday, October 15 at 2:30 p.m. We welcome all KSC faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and it’s an entry-fee free event!
Register at the front desk at the Rec Center on campus. You can register the day of the race, so come on down! We guarantee t-shirts for the first 125 sign-ups, once you complete the run.
Recreational Sports is promoting the Monadnock United Way campaign during the Fun Run sign up period and on race day, so bring in any spare change or make a donation to this campus-wide fundraising event. We’ll sure appreciate it! For more information contact Lynne Andrews.
Poet Mary Benson, recipient of the Eder Creative Writing Scholarship
KSC senior Mary Benson, of Chester, NH, has been awarded the Eder Creative Writing Scholarship, an impressive accomplishment. So impressive, in fact, that we thought we’d introduce her through three of her poems, a Newsline first. Let us – and Mary – know what you think. If you’d like to know more about her, and the scholarship, see the news story on the KSC news page.
l to r: A great trombone teacher and the next Kid Ory. (Lynn Roman photo)
OK, this is personal, I know. But I’m pretty sure this story is typical of the indelible personal touch that most students here receive from faculty members, and that makes it worth telling. And let me add: I’m far beyond the age of a traditional college student.
Anyway, it all started when my cousin gave me an old trombone last July. Being a big fan of such greats as Jack Teagarden and Kid Ory, I determined to learn how to play it. I began searching the web for instructional videos and books, and I contacted KSC Prof. Jim Chesebrough, who teaches music education and trombone, among other things, for his recommendations. “You can’t learn from books and videos,” he said. “Come over to my office and I’ll give you lessons.”
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) presented its 31st Annual News and Documentary Emmy® Awards at a ceremony at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, located in the Time Warner Center in New York City. More than 900 television and news media industry executives, news and documentary producers, and journalists attended the ceremony. KSC alum Robin Oelkers ’98 won an Emmy for his work on Dateline NBC, in the category of Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine.
The ceremony will be broadcast on Saturday, October 9, at 8 p.m. ET, on C-SPAN. If you know Robin, use the Comments link to send him congratulations. A big congratulations, Robin!
There’s nothing like the element of surprise – especially when the surprise comes in the form of two bequests that will make a real difference to deserving Keene State students.
Recently, KSC received two unexpected gifts: one from emeritus faculty Peter Batchelder, who taught German here until 1981, and one from Dorothea Kitlan, who worked on campus from the late 1960s to the mid ’80s and received her BA as a non-traditional student in 1972.
Anyone who has been around Keene State over the past three years has likely cheered for Erin Dallas, the All-American field hockey player whose triumph over a serious post-surgical bacterial infection is nothing short of miraculous. The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) recognized her brave determination when they awarded her the ECAC Award of Valor, which “honors ECAC athletes whose courage, motivation, and relentless determination serves as an inspiration to all. The recipients exemplify strength of character and perseverance deserving recognition as being truly triumphant.”
Three other remarkable athletes also received the award: Erin Doolan (Springfield College), Merzudin Ibric (Wheaton College), and Kevin Laue (Manhattan College). They will receive their awards at the Honors Banquet on Tuesday, September 28, held at The Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts during the 2010 ECAC Fall Convention and Trade Show. Read all their stories – you’ll be inspired. And send valiant Erin a comment!
One of the biggest things about going off to college is finally getting out from under the watchful eye of the parents, right? Every college kid knows what a liberating experience that is – until it comes time to do the laundry. And that’s where two enterprising alums come in. Mike Vitone and Nathan Gaughan, who both graduated last May, have started Campus Mom, “a laundry pick-up and delivery service for Keene State College students and professionals living in the city of Keene.”
As former soccer players, Vitone and Gaughan know well the burden of trying to fit a few hours a week at the laundromat in between classes, study, meals, practice, games, and all the other demands of student life. So they saw a need, and they’re offering a solution. Read all about it in the Equinox!
If you were one of the approximately 600 audience members who attended the premiere of Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve: The First Hundred Years of Keene State College over 
